51 pc polling in Bihar, voters ignore Maoist boycott call

Voters stand in queue to cast their votes in one of the polling booths in Bihar.

Defying a call by Maoists to boycott the polls, an estimated 51 per cent electorate on Monday cast their votes in 42 Assembly seats in Bihar's fourth phase, which saw stray incidents of landmine blast and bomb explosion.Voters ignored the poll boycott call with turnouts ranging up to 55 per cent in Alauli (SC) and 54 per cent in Begusarai and above 50 per cent in Bachwara, Teghra and Jhajha, in the Maoist belt which figured in the fourth phase of polling.

Maoists triggered a blast near a bridge on the Chakai-Jamui main road in Batia jungle, but none was injured.

The ultras fled after BSF commandos retaliated, Director General of Police Neelmani said.

Anti-socials set off two bombs near a booth in Danapur assembly constituency in which a woman was injured, Neelmani said. Four persons were arrested.

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